This Week In Island History

The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from the Jamestown Press. The news of 100 years ago came from the collection of the Newport Historical Society.

100 years ago From the Newport Journal, June 28, 1912

At the adjourned Financial Town Meeting, the proposition for an addition to the schoolhouse and the annual budget passed as a whole, with a few minor changes. The sum of $150 was appropriated for a granolithic sidewalk for Union Street. A sum not to exceed $200 was appropriated to be used under the direction of the council to fix the ball field, the use of which is to be extended to the teams from the fleet.

Preparations are being made to start the double service of the ferry, when the boats will leave half-hourly instead of each 40 minutes, as last season.

75 years ago From the Newport Daily News, June 25, 1937

More than 100 were served at the supper given Thursday in grange hall under the auspices of the Home Economics Committee of the grange.

From the Newport Daily News, June 26, 1937

The auditorium of the Thomas H. Clarke School was filled Thursday evening for the graduation play and exercises. Miss Lena H. Clarke, teacher in the Jamestown schools for the past 42 years, told many interesting experiences that had taken place during those years.

From the Newport Daily News, June 28, 1937

The graduates’ dance, at the grange hall Saturday eve-

ning, was sponsored by Conanicut Grange. Many of the Jamestown graduates from colleges, high schools and grammar schools attended. Bowen’s orchestra played for dancing. At 11 o’clock a grand march by the graduates was held.

The feast of the Holy Ghost was held Sunday. The visiting societies left on the 6 o’clock boat.

From the Newport Daily News, June 30, 1937

What was declared to be the start of a drive to raise $3,000 to advertise Jamestown next year took place Thursday evening at a largely attended dinner meeting at the Beavertail Golf and Country Club in Jamestown. It was sponsored by the Jamestown Board of Trade and attended by 170 persons.

50 years ago From the Newport Daily News, June 25, 1962

Richard E. Sheehan, a native of Jamestown, who has been teaching in Newport’s Cranston-Calvert School, was appointed elementary teaching principal of Jamestown School.

The Jamestown Town Council last night accepted a preliminary report of the Jamestown Planning Board suggesting new sites for town service facilities. (Three new locations for the Highway Department, the Town Hall and the Philomenian Library were submitted. The highway barn decision was given priority. The location suggested was at the town-owned land bounded by Watson, Melrose and Lawn avenues. The board suggested that the abandoned Thomas H. Clarke School could be used for a Town Hall. Plans offered for the town library were to move the library across Narragansett Avenue in the present Town Hall site. The present town clerk’s office would make an excellent reading room; the back of the hall could be used for shelving books.)

From the Newport Daily News, June 28, 1962

Camp Seaside, YWCA camp in Conanicut Park, Jamestown, will open its 85th year of camping on Sunday. With the completion of waterfront improvements serving as a combined swim area, boat ramp and breakwater, waterfront activities, including sailing, will be a special feature this season.

25 years ago From the Newport Daily News, June 25, 1987

A joint legislative committee has approved a bill tacking the name of an Italian explorer to new Narragansett Bay span to replace the aging Jamestown Bridge. By a 5-2 margin, the Joint Committee on Naming State Constructions voted to name the span the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge, despite opposition from one lawmaker who called the bill “an act of unfairness.”

From the Newport Daily News, June 26, 1987

The state Senate put the finishing touches on a Providence coup d’etat Thursday when it voted 34- 15 to name the new Jamestown Bridge the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge. There is still an outside chance that the bill, fought tooth and nail by local legislators, could die. Approved substantially by legislative bodies, the bill now resides on Gov. DiPrete’s desk.

(Photo caption) Retiring Jamestown Town Clerk Lois Coons looks over records with Teri Donovan, who will become the new clerk when Coons retires July 17.

15 years ago From the Jamestown Press, June 26, 1997

Residents on the municipal water system must restrict their outdoor water use to odd or even days. According to Public Works Director Steve Goslee, the town could be looking at another drought.

The Town Council Monday voted unanimously to have parents interested in establishing a skateboard facility for island kids to formally organize into a group.

A Town Council action Monday night eliminated some 25 parking spaces along Conanicus and Walcott avenues at East Ferry.

The Jamestown School graduated 62 eighth-grade students in an outdoor ceremony last Friday evening.

10 years ago From the Jamestown Press, June 27, 2002

Town Council members Monday adopted a compromise plan for new highway facilities: two barns, divided between the two hotly debated locations (Taylor Point and Lot 47).

North Kingstown High School’s graduating class included 41 Jamestown residents, two of which were the school’s valedictorian (Caitlin Brome) and salutatorian (Stefan Gislason).

At their June 20 meeting, the School Committee voted unanimously to give the Playground Fundraising Committee the $39,000 they requested to complete the $130,000 project. (The playground is on the north side of the Melrose Avenue School.)